Chapter 19 Angular Momentum

19.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1

19.2 Angular Momentum about a Point for a Particle .............................................. 2
19.2.1 Angular Momentum for a Point Particle ..................................................... 2
19.2.2 Right-Hand-Rule for the Direction of the Angular Momentum ............... 3
Example 19.1 Angular Momentum: Constant Velocity ........................................ 4
Example 19.2 Angular Momentum and Circular Motion ..................................... 5
Example 19.3 Angular Momentum About a Point along Central Axis for
Circular Motion ........................................................................................................ 5
19.3 Torque and the Time Derivative of Angular Momentum about a Point for a
Particle ........................................................................................................................... 8
19.4 Conservation of Angular Momentum about a Point ......................................... 9
Example 19.4 Meteor Flyby of Earth .................................................................... 10
19.5 Angular Impulse and Change in Angular Momentum ................................... 12
19.6 Angular Momentum of a System of Particles .................................................. 13
Example 19.5 Angular Momentum of Two Particles undergoing Circular
Motion ...................................................................................................................... 14
Example 19.6 Angular Momentum of a System of Particles about Different
Points ........................................................................................................................ 15
19.7 Angular Momentum and Torque for Fixed Axis Rotation ............................. 17
Example 19.6 Circular Ring................................................................................... 20
19.8 Principle of Conservation of Angular Momentum .......................................... 21
Example 19.7 Collision Between Pivoted Rod and Object .................................. 22
19.9 External Angular Impulse and Change in Angular Momentum ................... 26
Example 19.8 Angular Impulse on Steel Washer ................................................. 26
 Chapter 19 Angular Momentum
The situation, in brief, is that newtonian physics is incapable of predicting
conservation of angular momentum, but no isolated system has yet been
encountered experimentally for which angular momentum is not
conserved. We conclude that conservation of angular momentum is an
independent physical law, and until a contradiction is observed, our
physical understanding must be guided by it. 1

Dan Kleppner

19.1 Introduction

When we consider a system of objects, we have shown that the external force, acting at
the center of mass of the system, is equal to the time derivative of the total momentum of
the system,

ext dpsys
F = . (19.1.1)
dt

We now introduce the rotational analog of Equation (19.1.1). We will first introduce the
concept of angular momentum for a point-like particle of mass m with linear momentum

p about a point S , defined by the equation

L S = rS p , (19.1.2)

where rS is the vector from the point S to the particle. We will show in this chapter that
the torque about the point S acting on the particle is equal to the rate of change of the
angular momentum about the point S of the particle,

dL S
S = . (19.1.3)
dt

Equation (19.1.3) generalizes to any body undergoing rotation.

We shall concern ourselves first with the special case of rigid body undergoing fixed axis

rotation about the z-axis with angular velocity = z k . We divide up the rigid body
into N elements labeled by the index i , i = 1, 2, N , the ith element having mass mi

and position vector rS , i . The rigid body has a moment of inertia I S about some point S
on the fixed
axis, (often taken to be the z-axis, but not always) which rotates with angular
velocity about this axis. The angular momentum is then the vector sum of the
individual angular momenta,

1
Kleppner, Daniel, An Introduction to Mechanics (1973), p. 307.

19-1
 i= N i= N

L S = L S ,i = rS ,i p i (19.1.4)
i=1 i=1

When the rotation axis is the z-axis the z-component of the angular momentum, LS ,z ,
about the point S is then given by
LS ,z = I S z . (19.1.5)

We shall show that the z-component of the torque about the point S , S ,z , is then the
time derivative of the z-component of angular momentum about the point S ,

dLS ,z d z
S ,z = = IS = IS z . (19.1.6)
dt dt

19.2 Angular Momentum about a Point for a Particle

19.2.1 Angular Momentum for a Point Particle

Consider a point-like particle of mass m moving with a velocity v (Figure 19.1).

Figure 19.1 A point-like particle and its angular momentum about S .

The linear momentum of the particle is p = m v . Consider a point S located anywhere in

space. Let rS denote the vector from the point S to the location of the object.

Define the angular momentum L S about the point S of a point-like
particle as the vector product of the vector from the point S to the
location of the object with the momentum of the particle,

L S = rS p . (19.2.1)

The derived SI units for angular momentum are [kg m 2 s 1 ] = [N m s] = [J s] . There is

no special name for this set of units.

Because angular momentum is defined as a vector, we begin by studying its magnitude

and direction. The magnitude of the angular momentum about S is given by

19-2

L S = rS p sin , (19.2.2)

where is the angle between the vectors and p , and lies within the range [0 ]
(Figure 19.2). Analogous to the magnitude of torque, there are two ways to determine the
magnitude of the angular momentum about S .

Figure 19.2 Vector diagram for angular momentum.

Define the moment arm, r , as the perpendicular distance from the point S to the line
defined by the direction of the momentum. Then

r = rS sin . (19.2.3)

Hence the magnitude of the angular momentum is the product of the moment arm with
the magnitude of the momentum,

L S = r p . (19.2.4)

Alternatively, define the perpendicular momentum, p , to be the magnitude of the

component of the momentum perpendicular to the line defined by the direction of the

vector rS . Thus

p = p sin . (19.2.5)

We can think of the magnitude of the angular momentum as the product of the distance
from S to the particle with the perpendicular momentum,

L S = rS p . (19.2.6)

19.2.2 Right-Hand-Rule for the Direction of the Angular Momentum

19-3
We shall define the direction of the angular momentum about the point S by a right hand

rule. Draw the vectors rS and p so their tails are touching. Then draw an arc starting

from the vector rS and finishing on the vector p . (There are two such arcs; choose the
shorter one.) This arc is either in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Curl the
fingers of your right hand in the same direction as the arc. Your right thumb points in the
direction of the angular momentum.

Figure 19.3 The right hand rule.

Remember that, as in all vector products, the direction of the angular momentum is

perpendicular to the plane formed by rS and p .

Example 19.1 Angular Momentum: Constant Velocity

A particle of mass m = 2.0 kg moves as shown in Figure 19.4 with a uniform velocity

v = 3.0 m s 1 i + 3.0 m s 1 j . At time t , the particle passes through the point

(2.0 m, 3.0 m) . Find the direction and the magnitude of the angular momentum about the
origin (point O ) at time t .

Figure 19.4 Example 19.4

19-4
Solution: Choose Cartesian coordinates with unit vectors shown in the figure above. The

vector from the origin O to the location of the particle is rO = 2.0 m i + 3.0 m j . The

angular momentum vector LO of the particle about the origin O is given by:

LO = rO p = rO m v
= (2.0m i + 3.0m j) (2kg)(3.0m s 1i + 3.0m s 1j)

= 0 + 12kg m 2 s 1 k 18kg m 2 s 1(k) + 0
= 6kg m 2 s 1 k.

In the above, the relations i j = k , j i = k , i i = j j = 0 were used.

Example 19.2 Angular Momentum and Circular Motion

A particle of mass m moves in a circle of radius r at an angular speed about the z -

axis in a plane parallel to the x-y plane passing through the origin O (Figure 19.5). Find

the magnitude and the direction of the angular momentum L O relative to the origin.

Figure 19.5 Example 19.2

Solution: The velocity of the particle is given by v = r . The vector from the center of

the circle (the point O ) to the object is given by rO = r r . The angular momentum about
the center of the circle is the vector product

L O = rO p = rO mv = rmv k = rmr k = mr 2 k .

The magnitude is L O = mr 2 , and the direction is in the + k -direction.

Example 19.3 Angular Momentum About a Point along Central Axis for Circular
Motion

A particle of mass m moves in a circle of radius r at an angular speed about the z -

axis in a plane parallel to but a distance h above the x-y plane (Figure 19.6). (a) Find the

19-5

magnitude and the direction of the angular momentum L O relative to the origin O . (b)

Find the z -component of L O .

Figure 19.6 Example 19.3

Solution: We begin by making a geometric argument. Suppose the particle has

coordinates ( x, y, h) . The angular momentum about the origin O is defined as

L O = rO mv . (19.2.7)

The vectors rO and v are perpendicular to each other so the angular momentum is
perpendicular to the plane formed by those two vectors. The speed of the
particle is

v = r . Suppose the vector rO forms an angle with the z -axis. Then L O forms an
angle 90 with respect to the z-axis or an angle with respect to the x-y plane as
shown in Figure 19.7.

Figure 19.7 Direction of L O Figure 19.8 Direction of L O sweeps out
a cone

The magnitude of L O is

19-6

L O = rO m v = m(h2 + (x 2 + y 2 ))1/2 r . (19.2.8)

The magnitude of L O is constant, but its direction is changing as the particle moves in a
about the z -axis, sweeping out a cone as shown in Figure 19.8. We draw
circular orbit
the vector L O at the origin because it is defined at that point.

We shall now explicitly calculate the vector product. Determining the vector product

using polar coordinates is the easiest way to calculate L O = rO mv . We begin by writing
the two vectors that appear in Eq. (19.2.7) in polar coordinates. We start with the vector

from the origin to the location of the moving object, rO = xi + yj + hk = rr + hk where

r = ( x 2 + y 2 )1/ 2 . The velocity vector is tangent to the circular orbit so v = v = r .

Using the fact that r = k and k = r , the angular momentum about the origin L O
is

L O = rO mv = (rr + hk) mr = mr 2 k hmr r . (19.2.9)

The magnitude of L O is given by

L O = m(h2 + r 2 )1/2 r = m(h2 + (x 2 + y 2 ))1/2 r . (19.2.10)

Agreeing with our geometric argument. In Figure 19.9, denote the angle L O forms with
respect to the x-y plane by . Then

L0 z r
tan = = = tan , (19.2.11)
L0r h

so = also agreeing with our geometric argument.

Figure 19.9 Geometry for components of L O

The important point to keep in mind regarding this calculation is that for any point along
the z -axis not at the center of the circular orbit of a single particle, the angular
momentum about that point does not point along the z -axis but it is has a non-zero

19-7
component in the x-y plane (or in the r -direction if you use polar coordinates).
However, the z -component of the angular momentum about any point along the z-axis is
independent of the location of the point along the axis.

19.3 Torque and the Time Derivative of Angular Momentum about a

Point for a Particle
We will now show that the torque about a point S is equal to the time derivative of the
angular momentum about S ,

dL S
S = . (19.3.1)
dt

Take the time derivative of the angular momentum about S ,

dL S d
dt
= (
r p .
dt S
) (19.3.2)

In this equation we are taking the time derivative of a vector product of two vectors.
There are two important facts that will help us simplify this expression. First, the time
derivative of the vector product of two vectors satisfies the product rule,

dL S d drS dp
= (rS p) = p + rS dt . (19.3.3)
dt dt dt S

Second, the first term on the right hand side vanishes,

drS
p = vm v = 0. (19.3.4)
dt

The rate of angular momentum change about the point S is then

dL S dp
= rS . (19.3.5)
dt dt

From Newtons Second Law, the force on the particle is equal to the derivative of the
linear momentum,
dp
F= . (19.3.6)
dt

Therefore the rate of change in time of angular momentum about the point S is

19-8

dL S
= rS F . (19.3.7)
dt

Recall that the torque about the point S due to the force F acting on the particle is

S = rS F . (19.3.8)

Combining the expressions in (19.3.7) and (19.3.8), it is readily seen that the torque about
the point S is equal to the rate of change of angular momentum about the point S ,

dL S
S = . (19.3.9)
dt

19.4 Conservation of Angular Momentum about a Point

So far we have introduced two conservation principles, showing that energy is constant
for closed systems (no change in energy in the surroundings) and linear momentum is
constant isolated system. The change in mechanical energy of a closed system is

Wnc = Em = K + U , (closed system) . (19.3.10)

If the non-conservative work done in the system is zero, then the mechanical energy is
constant,
0 = Wnc = Emechanical = K + U , (closed system) . (19.3.11)

The conservation of linear momentum arises from Newtons Second Law applied to
systems,
N
d d
Fext = p i = psys (19.3.12)
i=1 dt dt

Thus if the external force in any direction is zero, then the component of the momentum
of the system in that direction is a constant. For example, if there are no external forces in
the x - and y -directions then

d
0 = (Fext ) x = (psys ) x
dt (19.3.13)
ext d
0 = (F ) y = (psys ) y .
dt

We can now use our relation between torque about a point S and the change of the
angular momentum about S , Eq. (19.3.9), to introduce a new conservation law. Suppose
we can find a point S such that torque about the point S is zero,

19-9

dL S
0 = S = , (19.3.14)
dt

then the angular momentum about the point S is a constant vector, and so the change in
angular momentum is zero,
L S L S , f L S ,i = 0 . (19.3.15)

Thus when the torque about a point S is zero, the final angular momentum about S is
equal to the initial angular momentum,
L S , f = L S ,i . (19.3.16)

Example 19.4 Meteor Flyby of Earth

A meteor of mass m = 2.1 1013 kg is approaching earth as shown in Figure 19.10. The
distance h is called the impact parameter. The radius of the earth is re = 6.37 10 6 m .
The mass of the earth is me = 5.98 10 24 kg . Suppose the meteor has an initial speed of
v0 = 1.0 101 m s 1 . Assume that the meteor started very far away from the earth.
Suppose the meteor just grazes the earth. You may ignore all other gravitational forces
except the earth. Find the impact parameter h .

Figure 19.10 Meteor flyby of earth

Solution: The free-body force diagrams when the meteor is very far away and when the
meteor just grazes the earth are shown in Figure 19.11. Denote the center of the earth by
S . The force on the meteor is given by

Gm m
F = e2 r (19.3.17)
r

where r is a unit vector pointing radially away from the center of the earth, and r is the
distance from the center of the earth to the meteor. The torque on the meteor is given by

19-10

S = rS , F F , where rS , F = r r is the vector from the point S to the position of the
meteor. Because the force and the position vector are collinear, the vector product
vanishes and hence the torque on the meteor vanishes about S .

Figure 19.11 Free-body force diagrams for meteor

Choose Cartesian coordinates as shown in Figure 19.12. The initial angular momentum
about the center of the earth is
(L S )i = rS ,i p0 , (19.3.18)

where the vector from the center of the earth to the meteor is rS,i = xi i + h j (we can
choose some arbitrary xi for the initial x -component of position), and the momentum is

p i = mvi i . Then the initial angular momentum is

(L S )i = rS ,0 p i = (xi i + h j) mvi i = mvi h k (19.3.19)

Figure 19.12 Momentum diagram for meteor

The final angular momentum about the center of the earth is

(L S ) f = rS , f p f , (19.3.20)

19-11

where the vector from the center of the earth to the meteor is rS, f = re i since the meteor

is then just grazing the surface of earth, and the momentum is p f = mv f j . Therefore

(L S ) f = rS , f p f = re i (mv f j) = mre v f k . (19.3.21)

Because the angular momentum about the center of the earth is constant throughout the
motion
(L S ) i = (L S ) f , (19.3.22)
which implies that
vi h
mvi h k = mrev f k v f = . (19.3.23)
re

The mechanical energy is constant and with our choice of zero for potential energy when
the meteor is very far away, the energy condition becomes

1 2 1 2 Gme m
mvi = mv f . (19.3.24)
2 2 re
Therefore
2Gme
v 2f = vi2 + (19.3.25)
re

Substituting v f from part (d) and solving for h , we have that

2Gme
h = re 1+ (19.3.26)
revi2
On substituting the values we have,

h = 1117.4 re = 7.12 10 9 m . (19.3.27)

19.5 Angular Impulse and Change in Angular Momentum

If there is a total applied torque S about a point S over an interval of time t = t f ti ,
then the torque applies an angular impulse about a point S , given by

tf
J S = S dt . (19.4.1)
ti

Because S = d Ltotal
S / dt , the angular impulse about S is equal to the change in angular

momentum about S ,

19-12

tf t f dL
J S = S dt = S
dt = L S = L S , f L S ,i . (19.4.2)
ti ti dt

This result is the rotational analog to linear impulse, which is equal to the change in
momentum,
tf

t f dp
I = F dt = dt = p = p f p i . (19.4.3)
ti ti dt

19.6 Angular Momentum of a System of Particles

We now calculate the angular momentum about the point S associated with a system of
N point particles. Label each individual particle by the index j , j = 1,2,, N . Let the

j th particle have mass m j and velocity v j . The momentum of an individual particle is

then p j = m j v j . Let rS , j be the vector from the point S to the j th particle, and let j be

the angle between the vectors rS , j and p j (Figure 19.13).

Figure 19.13 System of particles

The angular momentum L S , j of the j th particle is

L S , j = rS , j p j . (19.5.1)

The angular momentum for the system of particles is the vector sum of the individual
angular momenta,
j= N j= N

Lsys
S
= S , j rS , j p j .
L = (19.5.2)
j=1 j=1

The change in the angular momentum of the system of particles about a point S is given
by

j= N dr

dLsys d j= N dp j
S
= LS , j = S, j
p j + rS , j . (19.5.3)
dt dt j=1 j=1 dt dt

19-13

Because the velocity of the j th particle is v S , j = drS , j / dt , the first term in the
parentheses vanishes (the cross product of a vector with itself is zero because they are
parallel to each other)

drS , j
p j = vS, j mjvS, j = 0 . (19.5.4)
dt

Substitute Eq. (19.5.4) and Fj = dp j / dt into Eq. (19.5.3) yielding

j= N

d p j= N
dLsys
dt
S

j=1

dt j=1
(
= rS , j j = rS , j Fj . ) (19.5.5)

Because

(r )
j= N j= N

S, j
F j
= S , j = S ext + S int (19.5.6)
j=1 j=1

We have already shown in Chapter 17.4 that when we assume all internal forces are
directed along the line connecting the two interacting objects then the internal torque
about the point S is zero,

int
S
= 0. (19.5.7)
Eq. (19.5.6) simplifies to

( )
j= N j= N

rS , j Fj = S , j = S ext . (19.5.8)
j=1 j=1

Therefore Eq. (19.5.5) becomes

sys
ext dL S
S = . (19.5.9)
dt

The external torque about the point S is equal to the time derivative of the angular
momentum of the system about that point.

Example 19.5 Angular Momentum of Two Particles undergoing Circular Motion

Two identical particles of mass m move in a circle of radius r , 180 out of phase at an
angular speed about the z -axis in a plane parallel to but a distance h above the x-y

plane (Figure 19.14). Find the magnitude and the direction of the angular momentum L O
relative to the origin.

19-14
 Figure 19.14 Example 19.5 Figure 19.15 Angular momentum of
each particle about origin and sum

Solution: The angular momentum about the origin is the sum of the contributions from
each object. Since they have the same mass, the angular momentum vectors are shown in
Figure 19.15. The components that lie in the x-y plane cancel leaving only a non-zero z -
component,

L O = L O,1 + L O,2 = 2mr 2 k . (19.5.10)

If you explicitly calculate the cross product in polar coordinates you must be careful
because the units vectors r and at the position of objects 1 and 2 are different. If we

set rO,1 = rr1 + hk and v1 = r 1 such that r1 1 = k and similarly set rO,2 = rr2 + hk

and v 2 = r 2 such that r2 2 = k then r1 = r2 and 1 = 2 . With this in mind we
can compute

L 0 = L 0,1 + L 0,2 = r0,1 mv1 + r0,2 mv 2
= (rr1 + hk) mr 1 + (rr2 + hk) mr 2 (19.5.11)
= 2mr 2 k + hmr (r1 r2 ) = 2mr 2 k + hmr (r1 + r1 ) = 2mr 2 k.

The important point about this example is that the two objects are symmetrically
distributed with respect to the z -axis (opposite sides of the circular orbit). Therefore the
angular momentum about any point S along the z -axis has the same value

L S = 2mr 2k , which is constant in magnitude and points in the + z -direction for the
motion shown in Figure 19.14.

Example 19.6 Angular Momentum of a System of Particles about Different Points

Consider a system of N particles, and two points A and B (Figure 19.6). The angular
momentum of the j th particle about the point A is given by

19-15

L A,j = rA,j m j v j . (19.5.12)

Figure 19.16 Vector triangle relating position of object and points A and B

The angular momentum of the system of particles about the point A is given by the sum

N N

L A = L A,j = rA,j m j v j (19.5.13)
j=1 j=1

The angular momentum about the point B can be calculated in a similar way and is given
by
N N

L B = L B ,j = rB ,j m j v j . (19.5.14)
j=1 j=1

From Figure 19.16, the vectors

rA,j = rB ,j + rA,B . (19.5.15)

We can substitute Eq. (19.5.15) into Eq. (19.5.13) yielding

N
N
N

L A = (rB, j + rA,B ) m j v j = rB, j m j v j + rA,B m j v j . (19.5.16)
j=1 j=1 j=1

The first term in Eq. (19.5.16) is the angular momentum about the point B . The vector

rA,B is a constant and so can be pulled out of the sum in the second term, and Eq.
(19.5.16) becomes
N

L A = L B + rA,B m j v j (19.5.17)
j=1

The sum in the second term is the momentum of the system

19-16
 N

p sys = m j v j . (19.5.18)
j=1

Therefore the angular momentum about the points A and B are related by

L A = L B + rA,B p sys (19.5.19)

Thus if the momentum of the system is zero, the angular momentum is the same about
any point.

LA = LB , (p sys = 0) . (19.5.20)

In particular, the momentum of a system of particles is zero by definition

in the center of

mass reference frame because in that reference frame p sys = 0 . Hence the angular
momentum is the same about any point in the center of mass reference frame.

19.7 Angular Momentum and Torque for Fixed Axis Rotation

We have shown that, for fixed axis rotation, the component of torque that causes the
angular velocity to change is the rotational analog of Newtons Second Law,

ext
S
= IS . (19.5.21)

We shall now see that this is a special case of the more general result

d sys
ext
S
= L . (19.5.22)
dt S

Consider a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis passing through the point S and take
the fixed axis of rotation to be the z -axis. Recall that all the points in the rigid body

rotate about the z -axis with the same angular velocity (d / dt)k z k . In a similar
fashion, all points in the rigid body have the same angular acceleration,

(d 2 / dt 2 ) k z k . The angular momentum is a vector, and will have a component
along the direction of the fixed z -axis. Let the point S lie somewhere along the z -axis.

As before, the body is divided into individual elements. We calculate the contribution of
each element to the angular momentum about the point S , and then sum over all the
elements. The summation will become an integral for a continuous body.

19-17
Each individual element has a mass mi and is moving in a circle of radius rS , , i about

the axis of rotation. Let rS , i be the vector from the point S to the element. The velocity

of the element, v i , is tangent to this circle (Figure 19.17).

Figure 19.17 Geometry of instantaneous rotation.

The angular momentum of the ith element about the point S is given by

L S , i = rS , i pi = rS , i mi v i . (19.5.23)

Let the point Oi denote the center of the circular orbit of the element. Define a vector

rO ,i from the point Oi to the element. Let rS ,O denote the vector from the point S to the
i i

point Oi . Then rS ,i = rS ,O + rO ,i (Figure 19.17). Because we are interested in the
i i

perpendicular and parallel components of rS ,i with respect to the axis of rotation, denote

the perpendicular component by rO ,i rS , ,i and the parallel component by rS ,O rS ,,i .
i i

The three vectors are related by

rS ,i = rS ,,i + rS , ,i . (19.5.24)

The angular momentum about S is then

L S , i = rS , i mi v i = (rS , ,i + rS , , i ) mi v i
(19.5.25)
= (rS ,,i mi v i ) + (rS , , i mi v i ).

In the last expression in Equation (19.5.25), the first term has a direction that is
perpendicular to the z -axis; the direction of a vector product of two vectors is always

perpendicular to the direction of either vector. Because rS , ,i is in the z -direction, the
first term in the last expression in Equation (19.5.25) has no component along the z -axis.

19-18
Therefore the z -component of the angular momentum about the point S , (LS ,i ) z , arises

entirely from the second term, rS , ,i mi v i . The vectors rS , ,i and v i are perpendicular,
as shown in Figure 19.18.

Figure 19.18 The z -component of angular momentum.

Therefore the z -component of the angular momentum about S is just the product of the
radius of the circle, rS , , i , and the tangential component mi vi of the momentum,

(LS , i ) z = rS , , i mi vi . (19.5.26)

For a rigid body, all elements have the same z -component of the angular velocity,
z = d / dt , and the tangential velocity is
vi = rS , , i z . (19.5.27)

The expression in Equation (19.5.26) for the z -component of the momentum about S is
then

(LS , i ) z = rS , , i mi vi = mi (rS , , i )2 z . (19.5.28)

The z -component of the angular momentum of the system about S is the summation
over all the elements,
Lsys
S, z
= (LS ,i ) z = mi (rS , ,i )2 z . (19.5.29)
i i

For a continuous mass distribution the summation becomes an integral over the body,

Lsys
S, z
=
body
dm (rdm )2 z , (19.5.30)

where rdm is the distance form the fixed z -axis to the infinitesimal element of mass dm .
The moment of inertia of a rigid body about a fixed z -axis passing through a point S is
given by an integral over the body

19-19
 IS = dm (rdm )2 . (19.5.31)
bo dy

Thus the z -component of the angular momentum about S for a fixed axis that passes
through S in the z -direction is proportional to the z -component of the angular velocity,
z ,
Lsys
S, z
= IS z . (19.5.32)

For fixed axis rotation, our result that torque about a point is equal to the time derivative
of the angular momentum about that point,

d
ext
S
= Lsys , (19.5.33)
dt S

can now be resolved in the z -direction,

dLsys
d d z d 2
ext
S ,z
= = (I S z ) = I S
S, z
= IS 2 = IS z , (19.5.34)
dt dt dt dt

in agreement with our earlier result that the z -component of torque about the point S is
equal to the product of moment of inertia about I S , and the z -component of the angular
acceleration, z .

Example 19.6 Circular Ring

A circular ring of radius r , and mass m is rotating about the z -axis in a plane parallel to
but a distance h above the x-y plane. The z -component of the angular velocity is z

(Figure 19.19). Find the magnitude and the direction of the angular momentum L S along
at any point S on the central z -axis.

Figure 19.19 Example 19.6

19-20
Solution: Use the same symmetry argument as we did in Example 19.5. The ring can be
thought of as made up of pairs of point like objects on opposite sides of the ring each of
mass m . Each pair has a non-zero z-component of the angular momentum taken about

any point S along the z -axis, L S , pair = L S ,1 + L S ,2 = 2mr 2 z k . So summing up over all
the pairs gives

L S = mr 2 z k . (19.5.35)

Recall that the moment of inertia of a ring is given by

IS =
body
dm (rdm )2 = mr 2 . (19.5.36)

For the symmetric ring, the angular momentum about S points in the direction of the
angular velocity and is equal to

L S = I S z k (19.5.37)

19.8 Principle of Conservation of Angular Momentum

Consider a system of particles. We begin with the result that we derived in Section 19.7
that the torque about a point S is equal to the time derivative of the angular momentum
about that point S ,
sys
ext dL S
S = . (19.5.38)
dt

With this assumption, the torque due to the external forces is equal to the rate of change
of the angular momentum
sys
ext dL S
S = . (19.5.39)
dt

Principle of Conservation of Angular Momentum

If the external torque acting on a system is zero, then the angular

momentum of the system is constant. So for any change of state of the
system the change in angular momentum is zero
sys sys
Lsys
S
( L S
) f
( L S i
) = 0 . (19.5.40)

Equivalently the angular momentum is constant

sys
(Lsys
S
) f
= ( L S i
). (19.5.41)

19-21
So far no isolated system has been encountered such that the angular momentum is not
constant so our assumption that internal torques cancel is pairs can be taken as an
experimental observation.

Example 19.7 Collision Between Pivoted Rod and Object

An object of mass m and speed v0 strikes a rigid uniform rod of length l and mass
mr that is hanging by a frictionless pivot from the ceiling. Immediately after striking the
rod, the object continues forward but its speed decreases to v0 / 2 (Figure 19.20). The
moment of inertia of the rod about its center of mass is I cm = (1/12)mr l 2 . Gravity acts
with acceleration g downward. (a) For what value of v0 will the rod just touch the
ceiling on its first swing? You may express your answer in terms of g , mr , m , and l .
(b) For what ratio mr / m will the collision be elastic?

Figure 19.20 Example 19.7

Solution: We begin by identifying our system, which consists of the object and the
uniform rod. We identify three states; state 1: immediately before the collision, state 2:
immediately after the collision, and state 3: the instant the rod touches the ceiling when
the final angular speed is zero. We would like to know if any of our fundamental
quantities: momentum, energy, and angular momentum, are constant during these state
changes, state 1 state 2, state 2 state 3.

We start with state 1 state 2. The pivot force holding the rod to the ceiling is an
external force acting at the pivot point S . There is also the gravitational force acting on
at the center of mass of the rod and on the object. There are also internal forces due to the
collision of the rod and the object at point A (Figure 19.21).

The external force means that momentum is not constant. The point of action of the
external pivot force is fixed and so does no work. However, we do not know whether or
not the collision is elastic and so we cannot assume that mechanical energy is constant. If
we choose the pivot point S as the point in which to calculate torque, then the torque
about the pivot is
sys
S = rS ,S Fpivot + rS ,A Fr ,o + rS ,A Fo,r + rS ,cm Fg ,r . (19.5.42)

19-22
 Figure 19.21 Free-body force diagrams on elements of system

The external pivot force does not contribute any torque because rS ,S = 0 . The internal
forces
between
the rod and the object are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction,
Fr ,o = Fo,r (Newtons Third Law), and so their contributions to the torque add to zero,

rS , A Fo,r + rS , A Fr ,o = 0 . If the collision is instantaneous then the gravitational force is

parallel to rS ,cm and so rS ,cm Fr ,g = 0 . Therefore the torque on the system about the pivot

point is zero, sys S
= 0 . Thus the angular momentum about the pivot point is constant,
sys
(Lsys
S 1
) = ( L S 2
) . (19.5.43)

In order to calculate the angular momentum we draw a diagram showing the momentum
of the object and the angular speed of the rod in (Figure 19.22).

Figure 19.22 Angular momentum diagram

The angular momentum about S immediately before the collision is

(Lsys
S 1
) = rS ,0 m1v 0 = l( j) m1v0 i = lm1v0k .

19-23
The angular momentum about S immediately after the collision is

lm v
(Lsys
S 2
) = rS ,0 m1v 0 / 2 + I s 2 = l( j) m1 (v0 / 2) i = 1 0 k + I s 2k .
2

Therefore the condition that the angular momentum about S is constant during the
collision becomes
lm v
lm1v0k = 1 0 k + I s 2k .
2

We can solve for the angular speed immediately after the collision

lm1v0
2 = .
2I s

By the parallel axis theorem the moment of inertial of a uniform rod about the pivot point
is
I S = m(l / 2)2 + I cm = (1/ 4)mr l 2 + (1/ 12)mr l 2 = (1/ 3)mr l 2 . (19.5.44)

Therefore the angular speed immediately after the collision is

3m1v0
2 = . (19.5.45)
2mr l

For the transition state 2 state 3, we know that the gravitational force is conservative
and the pivot force does no work so mechanical energy is constant.

Em,2 = Em,3

Figure 19.23 Energy diagram for transition from state 2 to state 3.

19-24
We draw an energy diagram in Figure 19.23, with a choice of zero for the potential
energy at the center of mass. We only show the rod because the object undergoes no
energy transformation during the transition state 2 state 3. The mechanical energy
immediately after the collision is

1 1
Em,2 = I S 22 + m1 (v0 / 2)2 .
2 2

Using our results for the moment of inertia I S (Eq. (19.5.44)) and 2 (Eq. (19.5.45)), we
have that
2
1 3m v 1 3m 2 v 2 1
Em,2 = (1/ 3)mr l 2 1 0 + m1 (v0 / 2)2 = 1 0 + m1 (v0 / 2)2 . (19.5.46)
2 2mr l 2 8mr 2

The mechanical energy when the rod just reaches the ceiling when the final angular speed
is zero is then
1
Em,3 = mr g(l / 2) + m1 (v0 / 2)2 .
2

Then the condition that the mechanical energy is constant becomes

3m12 v0 2 1 1
+ m1 (v0 / 2)2 = mr g(l / 2) + m1 (v0 / 2)2 . (19.5.47)
8mr 2 2

We can now solve Eq. (19.5.47) for the initial speed of the object

mr 4gl
v0 = . (19.5.48)
m1 3

We now return to the transition state 1 state 2 and determine the constraint on the
mass ratio in order for the collision to be elastic. The mechanical energy before the
collision is
1
Em,1 = m1v0 2 . (19.5.49)
2

If we impose the condition that the collision is elastic then

Em,1 = Em,2 . (19.5.50)

Substituting Eqs. (19.5.46) and (19.5.49) into Eq. (19.5.50) yields

19-25
 1 3m 2 v 2 1
m1v0 2 = 1 0 + m1 (v0 / 2)2 .
2 8mr 2
This simplifies to
3 3m 2 v 2
m1v0 2 = 1 0
8 8mr

Hence we can solve for the mass ratio necessary to ensure that the collision is elastic if
the final speed of the object is half its initial speed

mr
= 1. (19.5.51)
m1

Notice that the mass ratio is independent of the initial speed of the object.

19.9 External Angular Impulse and Change in Angular Momentum

Define the external angular impulse about a point S applied as the

integral of the external torque about S

t
ext f ext
J S S dt . (19.5.52)
ti

Then the external angular impulse about S is equal to the change in angular momentum

t tf
ext f ext dLsys sys
J S S dt = S dt = Lsys
S, f
L S ,i
. (19.5.53)
t t
dt
i i

Notice that this is the rotational analog to our statement about impulse and momentum,

t tf
ext f ext dpsys
IS F dt = dt = psys, f psys,i . (19.5.54)
t t
dt
i i

Example 19.8 Angular Impulse on Steel Washer

A steel washer is mounted on the shaft of a small motor. The moment of inertia of the
motor and washer is I 0 . The washer is set into motion. When it reaches an initial angular
speed 0 , at t = 0 , the power to the motor is shut off, and the washer slows down until it
reaches an angular speed of a at time ta . At that instant, a second steel washer with a
moment of inertia I w is dropped on top of the first washer. Assume that the second

19-26
washer is only in contact with the first washer. The collision takes place over a time
tint = tb ta . Assume the frictional torque on the axle is independent of speed, and
remains the same when the second washer is dropped. The two washers continue to slow
down during the time interval t2 = t f tb until they stop at time t = t f . (a) What is the
angular acceleration while the washer and motor are slowing down during the interval
t1 = ta ? (b) Suppose the collision is nearly instantaneous, tint = (tb ta ) 0 . What is
the angular speed b of the two washers immediately after the collision is finished (when
the washers rotate together)?

Now suppose the collision is not instantaneous but that the frictional torque is
independent of the speed of the rotor. (c) What is the angular impulse during the
collision? (d) What is the angular velocity b of the two washers immediately after the
collision is finished (when the washers rotate together)? (e) What is the angular
deceleration 2 after the collision?

Solution: a) The angular acceleration of the motor and washer from the instant when the
power is shut off until the second washer was dropped is given by

a 0
1 = < 0. (19.5.55)
t1

(b) If the collision is nearly instantaneous, then there is no angular impulse and therefore
the z -component of the angular momentum about the rotation axis of the motor remains
constant
0 = Lz = L f ,z L0,z = (I 0 + I w ) b I 0 a . (19.5.56)

We can solve Eq. (19.5.56) for the angular speed b of the two washers immediately
after the collision is finished
I0
b = . (19.5.57)
I0 + I w a

(c) The angular acceleration found in part a) is due to the frictional torque in the motor.

Figure 19.24 Frictional torque in the motor

19-27

Let f = f k where f is the magnitude of the frictional torque (Figure 19.24) then

I 0 ( a 0 )
f = I 01 = . (19.5.58)
t1

During the collision with the second washer, the frictional torque exerts an angular
impulse (pointing along the z -axis in the figure),

tb tint
J z = f dt = f tint = I 0 ( a 0 ) . (19.5.59)
ta t1

(d) The z -component of the angular momentum about the rotation axis of the motor
changes during the collision,

Lz = L f ,z L0,z = (I 0 + I w ) b I 0 a . (19.5.60)

The change in the z -component of the angular momentum is equal to the z -component
of the angular impulse
J z = Lz . (19.5.61)

Thus, equating the expressions in Equations (19.5.59) and (19.5.60), yields

t
I 0 ( a 0 ) int = (I 0 + I w ) b (I 0 ) a . (19.5.62)
t1

Solve Equation (19.5.62) for the angular velocity immediately after the collision,

I0 tint
b = ( a 0 ) + a . (19.5.63)
(I 0 + I w ) t1

If there were no frictional torque, then the first term in the brackets would vanish, and the
second term of Eq. (19.5.63) would be the only contribution to the final angular speed.

(e) The final angular acceleration 2 is given by

0 b I0 tint
2 = = ( )
0 + a
. (19.5.64)
t2 (I 0 + I w )t2 a t1

19-28